Job Details

Director of Graduate Admission (HR Title: Student Recruiter III)

Position Number: 7011242
Location: Dallas, TX
Position Type: Admissions/Enrollment

Director of Graduate Admission (HR Title: Student Recruiter III)

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

The Simmons School works to advance education, human flourishing, and community wellbeing through evidence based practice, collaborative partnerships, and innovative research centers. Simmons offers nationally recognized graduate programs across Applied Physiology & Sport Management, Counseling, Education Policy & Leadership, Human-Centered Interdisciplinary Studies Teaching & Learning, and its EdD/PhD pathways. The School also offers undergraduate programs in Educational Studies, Sport Management, Sport Performance Leadership, and Applied Physiology & Health Management, preparing students to become impactful educators, leaders, and practitioners in their local and global communities.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Director of Graduate Admission provides strategic leadership and hands on execution for graduate recruitment and enrollment across Simmons' academic programs. This position drives the inquiry to enrollment pipeline, partners closely with program directors and faculty admission committees, and collaborates with SMU's centralized Graduate Application Processing (GAP) and Slate teams to ensure timely, seamless applicant experiences. The Director leads graduate recruitment planning, yield strategy, forecasting, and reporting; develops targeted pipelines with districts, employers, and professional communities; and ensures high quality, data informed recruitment experiences aligned with university standards. The director leads and facilitates strategy around marking materials, email communication, and digital output with the goal of graduate enrollment. This may include outside vendors for lead generation and program promotion.

Essential Functions:

Graduate Recruitment and Yield Leadership: Develop annual and program specific recruitment and yield strategies to meet graduate enrollment goals. Manage the full applicant lifecycle: inquiry to application to admission to enrollment. Manage and lead high impact events (information sessions, webinars, faculty spotlights, sample classes).
Faculty Committee and Admission Operations Management: Coordinate faculty review committees, establishing consistent rubrics, and timelines. Ensure accuracy and timely movement of files in coordination with central GAP and Slate operations. Provide ongoing guidance to faculty and staff regarding admission policies and best practices.
Pipeline Development: Build and strengthen relationships with ISDs, community organizations, and employer networks to grow qualified applicant pools. Collaborate with the Director of Marketing to shape and evaluate program level recruitment content.
Data, Reporting and Forecasting: Use data analysis to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities to improve conversion and yield rates. Ensure continuous improvement in recruitment processes through actionable insights.
Other: Additional support to broader Simmons recruitment and admission efforts through other duties as assigned.
Occasional evening/weekend hours will be required for event support.
Occasional regional, national and international travel will be required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A Bachelor's degree is required. A Master's degree is preferred.

A minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in graduate admission, enrollment management, or related roles is required. Experience collaborating with faculty or academic departments is plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Candidate must have demonstrated success increasing applications, improving conversion, or strengthening recruitment pipelines.

Candidate familiarity with licensure/credentialing programs or professional graduate fields is preferred.

Candidate ability to possess strong analytical skills and ability to forecast enrollment trends is a plus.

Candidate knowledge of international student visa process (e.g. F-1 visa) is preferred.

Candidate ability to generate new admissions strategies and ideas and execute them in order to increase enrollment is desired.

Candidate must have a strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). Experience with admissions software (e.g. Slate) is strongly preferred. Experience with PeopleSoft is a plus.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Sit for long periods of time
Stand
Carry/lift 25 lbs.

Deadline to Apply:

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by April 15, 2026

Application deadline is May 1, 2026

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

Primary Location: USA-TX-Dallas

Job: Student Services

Organization: Simmons School of Education

Schedule: Regular

Shift: Staff

Employee Status: Individual Contributor

Job Type: Full-time

Job Level: Day Job

Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time

Job Posting: Mar 18, 2026, 1:41:58 PM

To apply, visit https://smu.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=SIM00000215&tz=GMT%2B00%3A00&tzname=UTC